Monday, September 16, 2013

Boston Bombing Victims Risk Losing Their Insurance

Months after the Boston Marathon
bombing, J.P. Norden is still recovering from losing his leg, but he
can’t cash a $1.2 million check provided to survivors because he would
lose his state health insurance for the poor.

Norden, and his brother Paul, both had legs amputated and received
identical checks as part of the $60 million being distributed by One
Fund charity. They told The Washington Post that they are very aware they would quickly use up the $1.2 million with their ongoing medical expenses.

“People will say stuff: ‘Oh, you guys got $1.2 million,’” J.P. Norden
explained. “Did we? Because I know I’ve got to buy a leg for the rest
of my life. I can’t go out and buy a house.”

While the benefit checks are tax free, cashing them means that the state will drop the brothers from the health insurance program for the poor. And within years, the costs of prosthetics alone will be more than the men were awarded.